How to Ship from the US to Pakistan: Complete 2026 Guide

There are over four million Pakistani-Americans in the United States, and a huge portion of them send packages to family in Pakistan on a regular basis. This makes the US-to-Pakistan shipping corridor one of the busiest routes to South Asia, with well-established carrier services and competitive pricing — if you know where to look.

That said, Pakistan's customs system can be unpredictable. Duty rates range from 3 to 35 percent depending on the item category, and packages valued over 50 dollars are frequently flagged for inspection at customs facilities in Karachi or Lahore. Understanding how to package, document, and ship correctly saves both money and weeks of delays at the border.

Choosing the Right Carrier

The carrier choice for Pakistan shipments depends heavily on package weight and how urgently the recipient needs the delivery.

For lightweight packages under four pounds, USPS First-Class Mail International is the most affordable option by a wide margin. Transit times run 14 to 25 business days, and costs start around 14 to 18 dollars. Tracking is limited once the package enters Pakistan Post's system, but for low-value personal shipments this is usually acceptable.

For packages between four and ten pounds, DHL Express is often the best overall value. DHL has an extensive network within Pakistan, including dedicated customs brokerage that handles clearance faster than most competitors. Transit times of three to five business days are typical, and DHL's door-to-door delivery works in most major Pakistani cities. Rates run roughly 45 to 70 dollars for this weight range.

FedEx International Economy hits the sweet spot for packages between ten and thirty pounds, offering reliable service at rates lower than express carriers while maintaining good tracking and customs handling. Transit times of five to eight business days are normal, and FedEx's established presence in Pakistan means fewer delivery complications than with smaller carriers.

For heavy shipments over thirty pounds, compare DHL Express and FedEx International Economy carefully — the rate crossover point depends on the specific weight and dimensions. UPS Worldwide Expedited also becomes competitive at higher weights, though UPS coverage within Pakistan is less extensive than DHL's.

What Customs Clearance Actually Looks Like

Pakistan customs applies duties on a product-category basis using the Pakistan Customs Tariff. Electronics typically attract duties of 10 to 20 percent, clothing ranges from 15 to 25 percent, and luxury goods can hit 35 percent. In addition to customs duty, a 17 percent General Sales Tax applies to most imported goods.

Packages valued under 50 dollars have a reasonable chance of clearing customs without inspection, though this is not guaranteed. Above 50 dollars, expect your package to be opened and inspected, especially if it arrives via postal service rather than an express carrier. DHL and FedEx packages tend to clear faster because these carriers have dedicated customs teams at Pakistani ports who process documentation electronically.

Every package needs a complete customs declaration with the sender and receiver addresses, a detailed item description (not just "gifts" or "personal items"), the declared value of each item, the quantity, and ideally the HS tariff code. Under-declaring values is a common tactic that regularly backfires — Pakistani customs officers are experienced at identifying undervalued shipments, and getting caught means penalties, confiscation, or both.

For personal effects being sent to family, marking the package as a personal gift does reduce scrutiny, but only for shipments valued under the gift exemption threshold. Above that threshold, gift designation does not change the duty calculation.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Pakistan has a longer list of shipping restrictions than most countries. Pork products, alcohol, and any material deemed objectionable under Pakistani law are completely prohibited. Electronics with cameras — including smartphones, laptops, and tablets — are legal to import but face higher duty rates and additional regulatory fees.

Medications require documentation from the originating physician and should be shipped in their original pharmacy packaging with the prescription label visible. Without this documentation, pharmaceutical shipments are frequently seized at customs.

Currency, jewelry, and precious metals face strict declaration requirements and high duty rates. If you are sending valuable items, consider purchasing additional insurance beyond the carrier's default coverage, because the claims process for items lost or seized in Pakistani customs is lengthy and rarely results in full reimbursement.

Packaging for the Journey

Packages to Pakistan travel roughly 7,500 miles from the US East Coast and go through multiple handling points. The journey typically routes through a European or Middle Eastern hub before reaching Pakistan, meaning your package gets loaded and unloaded at least three or four times.

Use sturdy double-wall corrugated boxes for anything fragile, and wrap items individually with bubble wrap or foam. Pakistan's climate varies dramatically — hot and humid in Karachi, cold in Islamabad during winter — so moisture-sensitive items should be sealed in poly bags inside the box.

Label your packages clearly with the full address in English and, if possible, in Urdu. Include the recipient's phone number on the customs declaration and the shipping label itself. Pakistani delivery drivers rely heavily on phone contact to coordinate deliveries, especially in areas without standardized street addressing.

Tips for Regular Shippers

If you send packages to Pakistan frequently, consider consolidating smaller items into larger, less frequent shipments. The per-package costs for customs processing and carrier handling make multiple small shipments significantly more expensive than one larger one.

Multi-carrier platforms like atoship let you compare rates across USPS, DHL, FedEx, and UPS for each shipment to Pakistan, ensuring you always get the best combination of price and transit time. They also generate customs documentation automatically, reducing the chance of errors that trigger inspections.

For very large shipments — household goods, commercial inventory, or anything over 150 pounds — sea freight through a freight forwarder is dramatically cheaper than air shipping. Transit times of six to eight weeks are standard, but the per-pound cost drops to a fraction of air rates.